February 13, 2015 — The Philippines Bureau of Immigration has announced a new requirement mandating a Bureau of Quarantine Medical Clearance for all visa applicants of certain foreign countries.
Applicants from the following list of countries who entered the Philippines on or after June 2014 on Immigrant, Non-Immigrant, and Special visa types are subject to the new medical clearance requirement:
Afghanistan
Angola
Bangladesh
Benin
Bolivia
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Cameron
Central African Republic
Chad
Colombia
Congo
Cote d'lvoire
Democratic Republic of Congo
Ecuador
Equitorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
French Guiana
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Indonesia
Iraq
Israel
Kenya
Liberia
Mali
Mauritania
Myanmar
Niger
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
Suriname
Syria
Togo
Trinidad
Uganda
Venezuela
Vietnam
Any applicable foreign national must submit an original or certified copy of a Bureau of Quarantine Medical Clearance upon filing his or her visa application unless formally advised otherwise. Likewise, the following visa extensions applications will only be processed upon submission of an original or certified medical clearance copy:
Authorized stay extension beyond 59 days
Long-Stay Visitor Visa extension
Extension of visa upon arrival, when applicable
Strict penalties may result from non-compliance including the denial of the visa application or cancellation of an approved visa.
*AIReS worked with Santa Fe in preparation of this bulletin. This document contains information contributed by Santa Fe and is intended for informational purposes only. This summary does not constitute legal advice nor should it be a substitute for specific legal advice in any situation.
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